Matthew Elliott,
Section Editor
May 9, 2007
Apple sells three different Mac desktops, each of which features a different Intel processor. From its perch at the top of the line, the professional-grade Mac Pro puts a pair of dual-core Xeon chips--that's four processing cores, if you're scoring at home--to good use inside its hulking, brushed-aluminum chassis. You'll need some serious graphics work ahead of you to justify the cost, but if you are a design professional or a committed photo or video hobbyist, you'll notice that the Mac Pro's price is competitive with those of high-end PCs and workstations.
In the middle of the line sits Apple's all-in-one PC, the iMac. It recently grew larger, with the new 24-inch model. The new 17-inch iMac is noteworthy because it's the first iMac to carry a price below $1,000. Regardless of screen size (there's also a third size at 20 inches), all iMacs now boast Intel's latest dual-core CPU in the form of the mobile Core 2 Duo.
On a budget? Like your tech small and compact? Then the a la carte Mac Mini is your pick. Using previous-generation Core Duo processors, the Mac Mini can't keep pace with its higher-end siblings, but it's the cheapest way to gain Apple's excellent iLife software and Mac OS. Its small size and bundled remote control make it a popular choice in the living room as an entertainment PC.
Read our reviews, watch the videos, and find the Mac that best matches your needs and budget.
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| Review date | August 18, 2006 | October 11, 2006 | October 10, 2006 |
| The Bottom Line | Apple's Mac Pro has design innovations that we hope will cross over to other systems. Its performance is as strong as you'd expect for a system in its class, and it's priced right, too. You might need more flexibility in your config options, especially for 3D design, but otherwise, the Mac Pro is as solid a professional-class PC as we've seen. | The Apple Mac Mini is an unquestioned winner among budget desktops, but HP has a small-form-factor PC whose feature set will woo many would-be Mac Mini buyers. | If you're looking for a pure budget desktop and aren't too worried about looks, even this new updated Mac Mini with its 1.66GHz dual-core CPU is a hard sell. But if you want a small, innocuous computer for sending or receiving media or other files between rooms, no other computer offers the deal that Apple has with this one. |
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| Features | |||
| Graphics Controller | PCI Express x16 - NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT - 256 MB | Intel GMA 950 | Intel GMA 950 |
| Storage Removable | None | None | None |
| Floppy Drive | None | None | None |
| Optical Storage (2nd) | None | None | None |
| Storage Controller | Serial ATA ( Serial ATA-300 ) | Serial ATA ; None | Serial ATA ; None |
| Type | Personal computer | Personal computer | Personal computer |
| Hard Drive (2nd) | - None | - None | - None |
| Printer | None | None | None |
| Processor Main Features | Intel Execute Disable Bit Intel Virtualization Technology Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology | Intel Execute Disable Bit Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology | Intel Execute Disable Bit Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology |
| Optical Storage | DVD?RW (+R DL) | DVD?RW (+R DL) | CD-RW / DVD-ROM combo |
| Manufacturer Warranty | 1 year warranty | 1 year warranty | 1 year warranty |
| RAM | 1 GB (installed) / 16 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - ECC - 667 MHz | 512 MB (installed) / 2 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - 667 MHz - PC2-5300 | 512 MB (installed) / 2 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - 667 MHz - PC2-5300 |
| Cache Memory | 8 MB L2 cache | 2 MB L2 cache | 2 MB L2 cache |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 8.1 in x 18.7 in x 20.1 in | 6.5 in x 6.5 in x 2 in | 6.5 in x 6.5 in x 2 in |
| OS Provided | Apple MacOS X 10.5 | Apple MacOS X 10.4 | Apple MacOS X 10.4 |
| Processor | 2 x Intel Xeon Dual Core 5150 / 2.66 GHz ( Dual-Core ) | 1 x Intel Core Duo 1.83 GHz ( Dual-Core ) | 1 x Intel Core Duo 1.66 GHz ( Dual-Core ) |
| Hard Drive | 1 x 250 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-300 | 1 x 80 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-150 | 1 x 60 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-150 |
| Weight | 42.3 lbs | 2.9 lbs | 2.9 lbs |
| Product Description | Apple Mac Pro Xeon Dual Core 5150 2.66 GHz | Apple Mac mini Core Duo 1.83 GHz | Apple Mac mini Core Duo 1.66 GHz |
| Voltage Required | AC 120/230 V | AC 120/230 V | AC 120/230 V |
| Product Form Factor | Tower | Desktop slimline | Desktop slimline |
| Communications | None | None | None |
| Audio Output | Sound card | Sound card - Stereo | Sound card - Stereo |
| Cache Per Processor | 4 MB ( 2 x 2 MB ) | 2 MB | 2 MB |
| Environmental Standards | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Monitor | None. | None. | None. |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
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